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The Dr Karen Guinee Library at University of Galway is to receive special funding from EBSCO Information Services to support the advancement of renewable energy and sustainability initiatives. The 2026 EBSCO Solar Grant programme is an annual initiative which supports libraries and educational institutions pursuing solar energy projects that reduce environmental impact, lower operating costs and create new opportunities for sustainability education and community engagement. University of Galway is among five libraries and academic institutions across three continents to receive funding as part of the 2026 EBSCO Solar Grant programme to advance renewable energy and sustainability initiatives. The funding will offset the cost of solar panel installation. The installation of solar panels in the Dr Karen Guinee Library builds on University-wide progress that has already seen energy efficiency improve by more than 50% across campus. It also supports the ambitions of the University's Sustainability Strategy 2026–2030, which sets out a vision for a carbon-neutral, nature-positive and healthy university. University of Galway has been recognised nationally and internationally for its sustainability leadership, including ranked #1 in Ireland in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings for the fifth year, as well as top 3 in the EU and top 100 in the world. The University has also renewed its AASHE STARS Gold rating for sustainability. Monica Crump, University Librarian, said: “University of Galway has been recognised as an SDG Ambassador by the Irish government due to our commitment to sustainability and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. That commitment has been strongly reflected in the design of our new library - the Dr Karen Guinee Library.    “We are delighted to have the support of EBSCO Information Services through the EBSCO Solar grant to ensure solar energy is a key component of the sustainability of our new building. We look forward to inspiring our students with the sustainability story of the Dr Karen Guinee Library when we open in 2027.” The addition of solar energy at the Dr Karen Guinee Library will support the University’s ambitious environmental goals and help power a next-generation learning and research space that will serve students, faculty and the wider community for decades to come. EBSCO is a leading provider of research databases, e-journal and e-package subscription management, book collection development and acquisition management, and a major provider of library technology, e-books and clinical decision solutions. Other recipients to share in the total funding package of $300,000 are Black River Falls Public Library in Black River Falls, Wisconsin; Cornwall Public Library in Cornwall, New York; Newburgh Chandler Public Library in Newburgh, Indiana; and Lupane State University in Lupane, Zimbabwe.  Ends    

University of Galway has today announced Professor Becky Whay has been appointed Deputy President and Registrar. Professor Whay takes on the role on a permanent basis having served in an interim position since September 2024. The appointment was confirmed by the University’s Governing Authority - Údarás na hOllscoile. President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: “Professor Whay brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of Deputy President and Registrar, along with a deep commitment to University of Galway’s mission and values, having acted in an Interim capacity since September 2024. “Professor Whay has a distinguished academic record as a researcher and educator and having served previously as Vice President International, her understanding of the higher education landscape at home and abroad will be of great benefit.” Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Whay, said: “It is a genuine privilege to be appointed as Deputy President and Registrar here at University of Galway. I look forward to the opportunities as well as the challenges ahead as we work to deliver on our strategy ‘Of Galway – for the World’. I’m absolutely committed to supporting our academics and ensuring the highest standards for our students, as well as being instrumental in the continuing development of our university for the public good.”    Bio of Professor Whay As Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Whay is a member of the University Management Team and Academic Council; deputises for the President in his absence; and has overarching responsibility for academic strategy and quality, academic promotions, complex organisational transformation projects and is the University’s sustainability champion.  Professor Becky Whay joined University of Galway in 2019 when appointed Vice-President International. In May 2024, she was reappointed to that role for a second term, with much of the focus on leading out on our International Strategy, which is central to the University of Galway Strategy 2030 and on the second phase of the European University Alliance- ENLIGHT.  In September 2024, Professor Whay was appointed to the role of Deputy President and Registrar on an interim basis.  In this interim role Professor Whay has provided continuity through a period of significant change, has provided leadership for a number of complex projects and has set the direction for the ongoing delivery of flagship successes including maintaining the university’s leading position in sustainability, the building of the new Dr Karen Guinee Library and establishing an Organisational Transformation Office. Professor Becky Whay previously worked at the University of Bristol, which is part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities and is ranked 57th in the world under the QS World Rankings and 5th in the UK for Research. She also held the post of Director of Internationalisation for the Faculty of Health Sciences at University of Bristol, a large, research-intensive faculty supporting the University’s medical, dental and veterinary schools. At the same time, she shared the Head of School responsibilities for Bristol Veterinary School and led the School through a period of substantial change culminating in a successful bid for American Veterinary Medical Association accreditation. Professor Whay has an international reputation for her research into dairy cattle and working equine welfare and works in areas of the world where human animal interdependency is critical to family livelihoods. She was the inaugural President of the International Society for the Study of Lameness in Ruminants and has Chaired the Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association. In 2015, she was recipient of the CEVA Farm Animal Welfare of the Year award. Ends

D’fhógair Ollscoil na Gaillimhe inniu gurb í an tOllamh Becky Whay atá á ceapadh mar Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí. Glacann an tOllamh Whay leis an ról go buan tar éis di a bheith ag feidhmiú ar bhonn eatramhach ó Mheán Fómhair 2024. Dheimhnigh Údarás na hOllscoile an ceapachán inné. Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh David Burn: “Bhí an tOllamh Whay ag gníomhú sa ról seo i gcáil eatramhach ó Mheán Fómhair 2024 agus i ngeall air sin tá an-tuiscint agus taithí aici a oirfidh don ról seo, mar aon le tiomantas láidir do mhisean agus do luachanna Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. "Tá iomrá ar an Ollamh Whay sa saol acadúil, mar thaighdeoir agus mar oide araon agus mar gheall ar an tréimhse atá caite aici mar Leas-Uachtarán Idirnáisiúnta roimhe seo, beidh an tuiscint atá aici ar thírdhreach an ardoideachais in Éirinn agus thar lear ina buntáiste mór.” Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí, an tOllamh Whay: “Is mór an phribhléid dom é a bheith ceaptha mar Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí anseo in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Táim ag tnúth leis na deiseanna chomh maith leis na dúshláin atá romhainn agus muid ag obair chun ár straitéis ‘Lonnaithe i nGaillimh, ag freastal ar an Domhan Mór’ a chur i gcrích. Táim go hiomlán tiomanta tacaíocht a thabhairt don fhoireann acadúil agus na caighdeáin is airde a chinntiú dár gcuid mac léinn, chomh maith le ról lárnach a ghlacadh i bhforbairt leanúnach na hollscoile ar mhaithe le leas an phobail.”      Beathaisnéis an Ollaimh Whay Mar Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí, tá an tOllamh Whay ina ball d’Fhoireann Bainistíochta na hOllscoile agus den Chomhairle Acadúil; déanann sí ionadaíocht thar ceann an Uachtaráin nuair a bhíonn sé as láthair; agus tá freagracht fhoriomlán uirthi as an straitéis acadúil agus as feabhas acadúil, as arduithe céime acadúla, as tionscadail claochlaithe eagraíochta chasta agus is í curadh inbhuanaitheachta na hOllscoile í.  Thosaigh an tOllamh Becky Whay ag obair in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe sa bhliain 2019 nuair a ceapadh ina Leas-Uachtarán: Idirnáisiúnta í. I mí na Bealtaine 2024, athcheapadh í sa ról sin don dara téarma, agus díríodh den chuid is mó ar an Straitéis Idirnáisiúnta a stiúradh, atá lárnach i Straitéis Ollscoil na Gaillimhe 2030, agus ar an dara céim den Líonra Ollscoileanna Eorpacha – ENLIGHT.  I Meán Fómhair 2024, ceapadh an tOllamh Whay ina hUachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí ar bhonn eatramhach.  Sa ról eatramhach seo, thug an tOllamh Whay leanúnachas le linn tréimhse ina raibh athruithe suntasacha ar bun, bhí sí i gceannas ar roinnt tionscadal casta agus leag sí amach an treo fadtéarmach do mhórthionscnaimh ar leith. Ina measc siúd tá seasamh ceannródaíoch na hollscoile san inbhuanaitheacht a choinneáil, Leabharlann nua an Dr Karen Guinee a thógáil agus an Oifig do Chlaochlú Eagraíochta a bhunú. D’oibrigh an tOllamh Becky Whay in Ollscoil Bhriostó roimhe seo, ollscoil atá mar chuid de Ghrúpa ollscoileanna clúiteacha Russell agus atá sa 57ú háit ar domhan de réir Ranguithe QS an Domhain agus sa 5ú háit sa Ríocht Aontaithe le haghaidh Taighde. Bhí post aici freisin mar Stiúrthóir Idirnáisiúnaithe i nDámh na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte in Ollscoil Bhriostó, dámh mhór, dhiantaighde a chuimsíonn scoileanna leighis, fiaclóireachta agus tréidliachta na hOllscoile. Ag an am céanna, roinn sí freagrachtaí an Chinn Scoile i Scoil Tréidliachta Bhriostó agus threoraigh sí an Scoil trí thréimhse inar tharla athruithe móra agus inar éirigh leo creidiúnú a bhaint amach le Veterinary Medical Association Mheiriceá. Tá cáil idirnáisiúnta ar an Ollamh Whay as a cuid taighde ar eallach déiríochta agus ar leas eachaí oibre agus oibríonn sí i limistéir den domhan ina bhfuil idirspleáchas ainmhithe daonna ríthábhachtach don tslí mhaireachtála a bhíonn ag teaghlaigh. Bhí sí ina céad Uachtarán ar an International Society for the Study of Lameness in Ruminants agus bhí sí ina Cathaoirleach ar an Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association. In 2015, bronnadh gradam CEVA uirthi as Leas Ainmhithe Feirme. Críoch